First tank advice

[Noah Hemingway]

My best friend is setting up his first reef tank which is great news! I am glad he is getting into this amazing hobby! I only have a few years experience in Reef keeping under my belt, as I have been keeping freshwater and brackish for far longer. I have given him as much advice as I can but I want you guys to give me some second opinions! What fish and corals would you recommend for a 40 gallon long reef setup with Basic LED lighting, a canister filter and a HOB protein skimmer. I have suggested he could go for a a pair of clowns, fairy wrasse, dartfish and some cardinals. But I know he really wants a puffer, tang and an angel. I have said most likely he could get a coral beauty? And maybe a kole? Any advice for me to pass to him regarding fish or corals would be great!

 

[BlennyTime]

Welcome! The key question is, does he want to have corals or not? There are a lot of cool fish that aren’t coral safe. Most tangs and puffers will get too big for a tank that size, some dwarf angels like the flameback may work. Clowns, wrasse, dartfish should work, as long as there is a lid (the last two can be jumpers).

 

[Noah Hemingway]

Welcome! The key question is, does he want to have corals or not? There are a lot of cool fish that aren’t coral safe. Most tangs and puffers will get too big for a tank that size, some dwarf angels like the flameback may work. Clowns, wrasse, dartfish should work, as long as there is a lid (the last two can be jumpers).

That’s what I thought, and yes he wants corals.